Today’s topic is Scientology, and the next 500 words will guarantee that I won’t get work in Hollywood.

The Church of Scientology is something many people have heard about, but few know much about it. Allow me to set the record straight: Scientology is a dangerous cult founded by a tax-cheat, B-list science-fiction writer that continues to use its vast wealth and land ownership to harass the critics who dare criticize it.

Scientology is structured in a hierarchal pyramid, where the more “auditing” $essions a person goes through, the more of the founder’s (L. Ron Hubbard) “truth” they are exposed to.

Of course, thanks to the Internet, the highest level “science” Hubbard ever dropped on humanity has been published for more than a decade. And here is the basic gist (familiar to those who have seen the South Park episode): Ahem, 75 million years ago evil space emperor Xenu captured a bunch of aliens, put them all in space planes and blew them up with hydrogen bombs in volcanoes on Earth. The souls of these dead space aliens then tried to float back out into space only to be trapped on Earth by Xenu’s ozone layer-esque alien soul stopper. The souls roamed the Earth for a millennium until they found something to which they could attach themselves in man. These parasitic alien souls, called Thetans, are the reason for our depression and bad television today.

Now let me be fair, I don’t want to defame blatantly individual scientologists. I’m sure that many Scientologists are good, decent people who have just found something of value. It is not my, nor anyone’s, place to disparage anyone’s right to believe anything he or she wants. I was raised Catholic so I am quite familiar with, ahem, more fanciful beliefs (Transubstantiation is just archaic Jesus Magick). My problem here (like my problem with Catholicism) is the institution and specifically the church leadership.

A few weeks ago, Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder, the two most senior officials ever to leave the Church of Scientology detailed the bizarre, violent and potentially criminal goings on of high-level church management, specifically the head of the church, David Miscavige. Now like all things Scientology, this takes some backstory.

Hubbard founded Scientology a little more than 50 years ago. Since then the empire has grown into a worldwide force, with millions of members, huge amounts of wealth and power and a whole bunch celebrity converts. How do you get all that in such a small amount of time? You lie, cheat and steal every chance you get.

From their tax fraud to their criminal break in of government buildings to extreme intimidation and harassment of family members, governments and journalists, they have cut themselves a huge slice of the pie, which they operate from a cartoonishly evil cruise ship command center (look it up) and the home base in Florida (where else?).

When Hubbard died, there was a power vacuum that was created in church leadership and Miscavige filled that vacuum. The head of the church reportedly beat, humiliated and abused other high-ranking members of the church in order to maintain a dictatorial control. Under his leadership, the church has conducted numerous “black” campaigns, which often use less-than-legal tactics to harass and intimidate anyone defined as an “Enemy of Scientology”(like yours truly).

There is a plethora of credible information available out there on the dangers and evils of the Church of Scientology worth reading, but the real point is this: Scientologists aren’t allowed to read this. Members are conditioned to ignore anything out there that is critical of the church. Any member of the church reading this should know, I love you and so does Jesus, especially when you question your leaders.

So please, if you have family members in the church (especially if they just started) read up on Scientology, and try and persuade them to as well. And if you are approached by Scientologists (or its cover, Dianetics and Business Management Technology) run, don’t walk, toward the nearest escape hatch. Then the 75-million year war for the Earth will be won.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

LeRoy H. Pfaff, age 62, of Sacramento, CA died on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on September 20, 1946, the son of Henry Pfaff and Ruth(Cook) Bailey in Lancaster, WI. LeRoy graduated from Lancaster High School in 1964, received a B.S. in Computer Science from Chapman College in 1984, and a M.S. in Telecommunications Management at Golden Gate University in 1993.On August 23, 1969, LeRoy was united in marriage to Alberta Breuer at St. Charles Catholic Church in Cassville, WI. LeRoy served 21 years in the USAF and received the Meritorious Service Award. He retired at the rank of MSGT. He was stationed at Mather AFB, CA from 1980-87 and remained in Sacramento, CA after retiring. He was employed by Anteon from 1987-2001. From 2001 to the present he worked for Anteon Corporation of General Dynamics of Sacramento, CA as a consultant for the US Army Corps of Engineers as a Senior Analyst/Programmer, CAD Manager Supervisor.LeRoy was a Scout Master for 5 years and received the Order of the Arrow. He enjoyed computer technology and programming. He also loved camping, fishing, and gold panning. LeRoy dearly loved spending time with his family, especially his grandson Mark Joshua Vaughn. He hosted 38 exchange students from around the world since 1992.LeRoy is survived by his wife Alberta of 40 years, a daughter, Denise(Luke) Vaughn of Hillsboro, Oregon, a son, Craig(Aimee) Pfaff of Sacramento, CA, and one grandson, Mark Joshua Vaughn. Also survived by three sisters Charlene Ingebritsen, Marita Hale, and Lorissa(Darlene House) Pfaff; five brothers, Loren(Kathy) Pfaff, Warren(Viola) Pfaff, Darvin(Ginger) Pfaff, Galen Pfaff, Terry(Chris) Pfaff along with many nieces and nephews. Survived by father-in-law Albert Breuer and 13 brothers- and sisters-in-law and exchange students turned son, Jakub Magner(Poland), and daughter, Nataly Lessa(Brazil).He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law Marilyn Breuer, brothers- in-law Jim Ingebritsen, Vernon Hale, and Markus Breuer.Funeral services will be held on Monday July 13, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Rancho Cordova, CA with Father Martin Moroney officiating. LeRoy was buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Sacramento, CA. A viewing will be held on Sunday, July 12, 2009 from Noon until 5:00 p.m. at East Lawn Mortuary, 5757 Greenback Ln. Sacramento, CA. Memorial donations may be made to the Children's Cancer Center of your choice. Services July 13 2009 10:00 A.M.

About Me

Born in Tampa to Puerto Rican parents, adopted at the age of four months. Found birth family when I was 16. Have two grown sons and recently became a Grandmother. Came out when I was 21 years old. Have been with my life partner since December 28, 1994 and it just keeps getting better. Any more than that would be to much info.